Business machine



Feb. 14, 1939. R MULLER 2,147,051

' BUSINESS MACHINE Original Filed June 1, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ROM L.my

ATTO RN EYS Feb. 14, 1939. R. L. MULLER BUSINESS MACHINE Fig. 4. 8

SSheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 14,1939. 1 RLMULLER 2,147,051

BUSINESS MACHINE Original Filed June 1, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORBY LI. 727/81 Min, M, v ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 BUSINESSMACHINE Robert L. Muller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Burroughs AddingMachine Company, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Detroit,

Application June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,731 Renewed December 24, 1937 24Claims.

This invention relates to a line finding device for business machinesand more particularly to a directly visible line finder especiallyadapted to a Burroughs high keyboard bookkeeping machine. It has beencustomary with a machine of this type to sight a line finder by indirectmeans such as lights and reflecting mirrors. This was necessitated bythe fact that the platen in this type of machine is positioned in backof and below the key-board so that when a sheet is inserted under theplaten, the printing line cannot be observed by the operator and thesheet cannot be adjusted readily for correct alignment.

Therefore, it is a general object of my invention to provide an improvedline finding device.

Another object is to provide a line finding device for use on a machineof the high keyboard type that is directly visible to the operatorduring line finding operations. I

, A further object is to provide/a directly visible line finding devicesuitable for a machine of the high keyboard type having a front feedpaper carriage and operable, without adjustment, upon sheets varying asto size and form.

Still another object is to provide a directly visible line findingdevice that is adapted to facilitate the insertion of a journal sheetfrom the front or rear.

A further object isto provide a sheet end signal controlled line findingdevice.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparenthereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be more apparent from the followingspecification, in which one embodiment is illustrated. The invention isillustrated and described as applied to a Burroughs high keyboardbookkeeping machine of the type disclosed in the copending United Statesapplications Serial Nos. 469,957 and 745,066, filed by Robert Muller andin the Burroughs British Patent No. 382,613 of July 23, 1930, andwherein is shown and described Burroughs high keyboard machines --havingfront feed means and means for automatically and manually opening andclosing the paper throat and front feed means. It will be understoodthat the directly visible line finder comprising the present inventionis adaptable to both the manually and automatically operated throwbackcarriages, and is applicable to'the entire general class of business ma-7 chines of which the high keyboard machine is but one formg V In thedrawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a Burroughshigh keyboard machine and illustrating the line finding device inaligning position;

Fig. 2 is a partial right side elevation illustrating the paper carriagewith the right-hand side plates removed and showing the relativepositions of the parts when in printing position with the line finder ininoperative position;

Fig. 3 is also a partial right side elevation illustrating the papercarriage with the right-hand side plates removed and showing therelative positions of the parts in throwback position and the linefinding means in operating or line finding position.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation illustrating the means for moving thecarriage to open throat position.

Fig. 5 is a partial right side elevation of the paper carriageillustrating the line finding device in combination with a sheet endsignal device.

Machine generally Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated theBurroughs high keyboard machine of the type shown in the aforesaidapplications and British patent and having the usual platen I 0 mountedin a platen supporting frame. II and the customary feed rolls I2- Theplaten is movable from a printing position relative to the printingmechanismof the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, to a front-feed position asshown in Fig. 3. When the platen is in its front-feed position the feedor pressure rolls l2 are disengaged therefrom as shown in Fig. 3, andthe platen may be said to be in front-feed position where the throat forreceiving the papers is open. A frontfeed paper table I3 is providedwhich is adapted to receive and guidea work sheet l4 into frontfedposition and to assist in holding it as will presently appear. Thistable is pivotally mounted at I5 on the carriage frame I6 so that itnormally tends to move counterclockwise, but its counterclockwisemovement is limited, when the platen is in front-feed position, by arubber bumper I'l. As the platen is returned to printing position, theedge. of one of the plates ll of the platen frame engages rollers I 9 onthe table so as to swing the table to a substantially vertical positionwhere the lower edge of the table assists in holding the inserted sheetabout the platen.

Means are also provided for automatically opening and closing the frontfeed throat and for moving the platen to and from printing position inthe illustrated type of machine, as is disclosed in said applicationsand British patent and will finder for indicating the printing line. Theline now be briefly described. As the machine is given a cycle ofoperation a cam 20 on the motor op- ,erated shaft 2| is rotatedclockwise into engagement with a stud 22 carried by a lever 23 that ispivoted at 24 to the machine, thereby rocking the lever 23counterclockwise and'tensioning a spring 25 which constantly urges thelever 23 in a clockwise direction. As lever 23 is rockedcounterclockwise, a slide 26 connected thereto by a link 21 is drawndownwardly where it is held by a latch 28 adapted to be engaged andreleased by a stud 28 carried by a ball 28. Upon being released, theslide 26 is moved upwardly by the spring 25. The upward movement of theslide 26 raises a bail 28 carried by a pair of levers 29 to rock thelevers 29 clockwise. The forward ends of levers 29 are connected to arms30 fixed to a shaft 36*, which is rocked counterclockwise by levers 23,thereby raising the platen l0, its frame and the table l3 to open throator front feed position. As the platen frame II is returnedcounterclockwise (Fig. 2) into printing position, the table |3 moves ina clockwise direction into a more nearly vertical or closed throatposition by the engagement of the rollers IS with the curved edges ofthe platen supporting frames I.

The machine also provides for automatic line spacing for eachtransaction in the well known manner as well as for automatic movementof the platen lfland table I3 to and from open throat position, as wasbriefly described above.

The visible line finding device is especially adapted to aligning ledgeror work sheets to the desired printing line, but at the same time it isequally well adapted for the alignment of journal sheets. The worksheets are usually inserted and withdrawn after each line of printing,while the journal sheet remains around the platen for a continuousrecord of all items entered on the work sheet. The line finding deviceembodying my invention will first be described in connection with thealignment of a work sheet.

Line finder-front feed insertion of work sheet With the platen II] infront feed or open throat position and with the table l3 in' forward oropen throat position, as shown in Fig. 3, the work sheet I4 is placedupon the table l3 and then.

moved downwardly between the platen l0 and the feed rolls |2,intoprinting position. In this posito a visible and more vertical positionby my aligning device which provides an aligning means in relation towhich the work sheet may be vertically adjusted by the operator intocorrect alignment for the next printing line.

This aligning device comprises a blade 3| which extends across the widthof the carriage (Fig. 1)

and which is formed with and supported by integral left and'right arms32 and 33, the arms being pivoted to the table |3 at 34. The armsterminate in finger levers 35 and 36 at their upper ends for moving theblade 3| to the operative or aligning position '(Fig. 3). To move theline finder to operative or line finding position, the finger levers 35and 36 are moved manually counterclockwise thereby causing the blade 3|to move counterclockwise about pivots 34 until the forward portion ofthe work sheet has been raised to a substantially vertical position withthe rearward edge of the blade 3| serving as the line finding devicemay. be latched in this position while the operator adjusts the sheetvertically until the rearward edge of the blade extends just under theprevious line of figures as in Fig. 1. When this alignment is achievedthe work sheet is in aligned position for'printing the next transactionon the line below the one sighted with the aligning blade. The blade 3|is preferably notched as at 31 in order that a set of figures may beobserved below the line finder during line finding operations. Thisinsures that the edge of the line finder is aligned with the lastprinting line and precludes any possibility of error.

The means for releasably latching the blade 3| in operative or aligningposition comprises a stud 38 located on a rearwardly extending portion39 ofthe blade supporting arm and is adapted to slide in a T-shaped slot40, the vertical portion of which is arcuate, formed in a lever or latch4| pivoted to table l3 at 42. A tension spring 43 (Fig. 3) attached tothe stud38 and to a lever 44 pivoteda't 42 to the table l3 constantlyurges blade 3| clockwise out of aligning position and the stud 38downwardly toward the lower end of the T- shaped slot 40. Another spring45, tensioned between a stud 46 located on the central portion of latch4| and a stud 41 located on the forward end of the lever 44, urges lever44 clockwise. Lever 44 is limited in this movement by a circular opening48 therein through which extends a fixed limiting stud 49 carried by thetable l3.

When the machine is in open throat position, the lever 44 is maintainedin counterclockwise position against the clockwise urge of spring 45 bya stud 54 carried by a lever 52. Consequently, when line finder 3| ismoved counterclockwise to line finding position stud 38 will rise to thehorizontal portion of T-slot 40, whereupon the spring 45 may rock thelatch 4| counterclockwise 'until stud 38 reaches the rear end of thehorizontal portion of T-slot (Fig. 3) and thereby latch line finder 3|in operative or line finding position.

After the work sheet has been adjusted to the correct printing line, thealigning blade 3| may be. either manually or automatically caused tomove to inactive position. To manually release the blade 3|, an upwardlyextending handle portion 50 of the latch 4| is moved rearwardly by theoperator so as to move the latch 4| in a clockwise direction until thestud 38 enters the vertical portion of the T-shaped slot and has beenrestored under the urge of the spring 43 from its latched position inthe horizontal portion to its normal position in the vertical portionof'the slot, thereby returning the blade 3| to inoperative position.

Automatic release of blade 3| to inoperative position is accomplishedwhen the throat is closed and the platen is returned to printingposition. As the platen frame II is moved counterclockwisefrom theposition of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 2, a rod 5| carried by the platenframe engages the lever 52 pivoted at 53 to the carriage frame I6 androcks lever 52 causing the stud 54 thereon to move upwardly and permitlever 44 to rock clockwise.

As this occurs a forward edge of a'notch 55 of the lever 44 engages thestud 46 to move latch 4| clockwise until the stud 38 enters the verticalportion of T-slot 4|] and is returned by the spring Y44 and latch 4|.

position by the operator, but after the proper alignment of the worksheet it may be manually or automatically released. The manual releaseis especially desirable and necessary when it is found that a wrong worksheet has been inserted and that it is necessary to remove the same.

When the carriage and its associated parts are in printing position(Fig. 2) lever 44 is maintained approximately in the central position ofits limited movement by stud 54 carried by lever 52. With the platen inthis position, lever 44 holds latch 4|. in released position through thespring 45. That is, should the aligning blade 3| be movedcounterclockwise into aligning position, the stud 38 will not slide intothe horizontal portion of the T-shaped slot 4|] so as to latch the bladein aligning position.

When the platen frame H is returned to front feed position (Fig. 3), rod5| carried by the platen frame I moves rearwardly and allows the lever52 to move counterclockwise about its pivot, thereby causing the stud 54to move lever 44 counterclockwise. This movement of lever 44 causes theforward side of the notch 55 to move away from the stud 46 and causesthe spring 45 to exert a counterclockwise urge on latch 4|. The stud 38at this time is in the vertical portion of the T-slot 40 and preventsrelative =-movement between lever Then, when the aligning blade 3| isbrought into aligning position, after the work sheet has been insertedinto the open throat, and stud 38 is raised and enters the upperhorizontal portion of the T-shaped slot, latch 4| will be permitted tobe moved forwardly or counterclockwise by the spring 45, causing thestud 38 to be latched in the rearward end of the horizontal portion ofthe T-shaped slot as shown in Fig. 3 and the stud 46 to again contactthe forward side of the notch Line finder-Frmt fed journal sheetAlthough the line finding mechanism operates substantially in the samemanner in the alignment of a journal sheet as in the alignment of a worksheet, the insertion of the journal sheet at the front or rear presentsslight variations in the operation and handling of the machine. To

adjust the machine for the insertionof the journal sheet through theopen throat at the front of the carriage, the carriage is moved to open;throat position of Fig. 3 and then a paper pana lever 55 fastened onshaft 6|. The paper pan 6!] presses the journal sheet against the platenand aids in maintaining the journal sheet in fixed position during theinsertion of work sheets 'when the feed rolls are disengaged from theplaten and in open throat position.

To swing the paper pan 60 out of contact with the platen; a hand lever56, pivted to the side of a journal table 54 as at 61 is manually rockedrearwardly or clockwise. Lever 66 has an integral arm which engagesastud 58 carried by a lever 69 pivoted on shaft GI, and rocks lever 69counterclockwise until stud 58 is received in a notch 10 of lever 65 tothereby latch lever 69 in counterclockwise direction. Another lever H,fixed to the shaft BI, is yieldingly connected by The forward portion ofthe paper pan.

a spring I2 to lever 69, whereby movement. of lever 66 will rock shaft6| so as to move the paper pan 50 counterclockwise out of engagementwith the platen. With the paper pan 50 in inactive dot-dash position(Fig. the journal sheet is easily inserted at the front and fed downbetween the platen l0 and the feed rolls l2, rearwardly over the pan 60,and onto the journal table 64. At this point the forward portion of thejournal sheet is resting with its printed surface downward on the tablel3. Similar to the operation in aligning work sheets, the blade 3| isnow moved counterclockwise, thereby raising the forward portion of thejournal sheet to a vertical position where it is aligned by the operatorto the desired printing line by means of the rearward edge of the blade3|.

'After the journal sheet is properly aligned, finger lever 66 is thenmanually released by rocking it counterclockwise to release the stud 68from the notch and to permit the paper pan 60 to move clockwise, therebyforcing the journal sheet into engagement with the platen. As the lever66 is rocked counterclockwise the lever 69 also moves clockwise, therebypermitting arm to.do likewise and allowing the shaft 6| to rotate so asto move the pan 60 into contact with the journal sheet. The forwardportion of the sheet may then be placed under a blade 13 carried bylever 52 and then under a spring-pressed feed roll 14 (Fig. 3) so as toprevent interference with the work sheet.

Line finder-Rear fed journal sheet When the journal sheet is to beinserted from the rear of the machine, such being the case when acontinuous roll journal is used, certain elements of the machine must bemoved out of active position to provide a clear pathway for the sheet inits passage into the correct aligned printing position around theplaten. With the machine in open throat position, the paper pan 60 ismoved away from the platen to the inoperative dash dot position of Fig.5, by moving the hand lever 65 clockwise and latching the same, thisoperation being the same as previously described for front feedinsertion of the journal sheet. The blade I3 is removed to inoperativeposition, that is, rearwardly, by depressing a slide 15 (Figs. 2 and 3)slidably mounted on lever 52 by means ofstuds 16 which project fromlever 52 and extend into 'slots 11. A spring 18 tensioned between thelever 52 and the slide 15 normally urges the slide in a forwarddirection to maintain a hooked end I9 of slide 15 in locked engagementwith the shaft 5| when in open throat position. Depression of.

the slide 15 causes the hooked end 19 to become disengaged from shaft 5|so that the blade 13 and the lever 52 may be freely moved rearward orclockwise.

After the paper pan 60 and the blade 13 have been removed to inoperativeposition, the journal sheet is inserted from the rear and moved forwardunder the platen where its forward edge is guided upwardly in front ofthe platen by a shield 80. Further progress of the journal sheet,however, may be interfered with by contact with the line finder which isin its normal inactive position. To prevent such interference the linefinder 3| may be manually removed from its normal inactive position, ina clockwise direction moved forward by'the operator until its forwardedge passes above the line finder 3|. The line finder 3| is yieldinglyheld against movement beyond its normal inactive position of Figs. 1 and5 by a bell crank lever 8| pivoted at 34 and urged counterclockwise, asviewed in Fig. 1,

against a limit stud 82 by a spring 83. The upper arm 85 of this leveris in the path of a stud 84 on an extension of one of the side armswhich carries the line finder 3|. When the line finder is in its normalposition the stud 84 contacts the lever 85. When it is desired to movethe line finder beyond normal the finger piece 35 is pushed rearwardly.This finger piece is fixed to one of the side arms that supports theline finder and is formed at a more vertical angle than the finger piece36. As the operator pushes on the finger piece 35 the line finder ismoved beyond normal in a clockwise direction, the stud 84 engaging arm85 and rocking bell crank 8| against the tension of spring 83.

With the blade in this retracted position, the journal sheet is movedfurther forward until its forward portion is passed over the line finder3| at which point the linefinder may be released to normal inoperativeposition. Then the line finder may be moved counterclockwise to aligningposition so as to raise the forward end portion of the journal sheet toa vertical position for alignment to the correct printing line.

Since the lever 52 is moved to the rearward po sition for the rearinsertion of a journal sheet, the stud 54 of the lever 52 is notactively positioned to contact the lever 44 so as to cause the latchingof the line finder in aligning position as it is in front feedinsertion. The line finder 3| is latched in operative position withoutthe use of the lever 52 and its stud 54 because as the line finder 3| ismoved counterclockwise to aligning position against the journal sheet,-the spring 43 urges the lever 44 in a clockwise direction which in turnurges the latch 4| also in a'clockwise direction so that the stud 38slides up the vertical portion of the T slot 48 and into the forward endof the horizontal portion instead of the rearward end portion as in thecase of front insertion of a journal sheet.

After the journal sheet has been aligned into correct printing line, thepaper pan '68 isreleased to engage the journal sheet and hold it againstthe platen by moving the finger lever 66 counter-- clockwise. The lever52 carrying the blade 13, is manually returned to active forwardposition where its stud 54 engages the lever 44 to release the stud 38from its latched position in the forward end portion of the T-shapedslot 48 and to enable the line finder 3| to return to inoperativeposition. The line finder 3| may also be returned to normalposition'manually by moving the handle portion 5|] of the lever 4| in acounterclockwise direction to disengage the stud 38 from its latchedposition before returning the lever 52 to active forward position. Theforward portion of the journal sheet may then be placed under theauxiliary feed roll 14.

' Sheet end signal There is also provided in the present invention asheet end signal device which is adapted to prevent latching of linefinder 3| in aligning position when the journal sheet nears its lastprinting line. In other words, the line finder is combined with a sheetend-.lock in such a way that when the operator rocks the line finder 3|into aligning position, it will not be latched therein in position as isusually the case, but will return immediately to inoperative position,thereby warning the operator that a new journal sheet is re quired. Forthis purpose a pawl or sensing means 86 (Fig. 5) is journaled on a shaft81 and has an upper arm 88 in constant engagement with the forked end 89of a lever 90. Lever 9|] is pivotally mounted on the shaft 5| and has aforwardly extending arm 9| carrying a stud 92 in position to be receivedin a notch 93 in a curved and downwardly extending arm 94 of the latch4|. A spring 95 tensioned between shaft 8] and the lever 96 urges lever90 in a clockwise direction and, thereby through the arm 88 urges thepawl 86 counterclockwise toward pan 6|] and into engagement with thejournal sheet 62. After the journal sheet has been fed out of contactwith the pawl 86, the pawl, under the urge of spring 95 dropscounterclockwise into a slot provided for this purpose in the paper pan68. Simultaneously, lever 99 is rocked clockwise so that stud 92 engagesthe notched arm 94 of the latch 4| with the result that the latch 4| islocked in inoperative position so that the line finder 3| cannot belatched in aligning position, although it may be moved thereto.

It is desirable that the operator be able to latch the line finder inaligning position even though the rearward edge of the journal sheet haspassed the pawl 88 as when the operator wishes to print on the linebelow that in printing position when the sensing pawl 86 drops. Toreturn the lever 9|] and the pawl 86 to inoperative position, there isprovided a lever 96 which is fixed on the shaft 8'! and has a slot 91through which extends shaft 5| so that lever 96 may be moved in adefinite limited space. As lever 96 is moved counterclock- Wise a stud98 on the lever 96 engages lever 90 to move the same counterclockwise soas to disengage lever 98 from latch 4| and to rock pawl 80 clockwiseinto normal raised position. The line finder may be latched in operativealigning position while lever 98 is manually held in counterclockwiseposition. The counterclockwise movement of lever 90 is limited by a stud99 engaging lever' 99.

When a new journal sheet is to be inserted in the machine and it is,therefore, necessary to clear the pathway for insertion of the sheet,and with machine in the open throat position of Fig. 5 both the paperpan 68 and the pawl 86 may be moved to inactive position in oneoperation merely by moving the hand lever 66 in a clockwise directionwithout the additional manipulation of the lever 96 as above described.As the shaft 6| is turned counterclockwise so as to rock the paper pan60 in the same direction to inoperative position, a cam I00, fixed onthe shaft BI, is also rocked counterclockwise and engages a lug |8|carried by the pawl 86 so as to pivot the pawl to inactive position.Thus, by the one movement of the lever 66, the paper pan 60 is loweredand the pawl 86 is raised to their respective inefiective positions. Thepawl 86 is also latched in its inefi'ective position by the samelatching means which maintains the paper pan in inactive position.

Although the foregoing description has set forth one form of linefinding device as applied to a Burroughs high keyboard bookkeepingmachine, it will be apparent that the invention may be applied todifferent types of business machines. It will also be understood thatchanges and modifications may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed chute for receiving andguiding a sheet under the platen to printing position, said chut'e beingmovable relative to said platen from a sheet-receiving to asheet-holding position and vice versa, a line finding device pivotallycarried by said chute and movable independently thereof to and from linefinding position, means for moving the line findingdevice to linefindingposition while said chute remains in sheet-receiving position, means forreleasably holding said line-finding device in line-finding position,and. means for returning said line finding device to inoperativeposition in so far as line finding is concerned.

2. In a business machine, a platen, a front-feed chute above and forwardof said platen for receiving and guiding a sheet under the platen toprinting position, said chute being movable relative to said platen froma sheet-receiving to a sheetholding position and vice versa, a linefinding device pivoted to said chute and movable independently thereofto and from line finding position, manual means for moving the linefinding device to line finding position while said chute remains insheet-receiving position, means for releasably holding said line-findingdevice in linefinding position, and automatic means for returning saidline finding device to inoperative position in so far as line finding isconcerned.

3. In a,business machine, a platen, a front-feed chute for receiving andguiding a sheet to printing position, said chute being movable relativeto said platen from a sheet-receiving to a sheetholding position andvice versa, a line finding device pivoted to said chute and movableindependently thereof to and from line finding position, means urging'said line-finding device to a position Where it is inactive for linefinding, means for moving the line finding device to line findingposition, means for latching the line finding device in line findingposition and means automatically operable for releasing said latch topermit said line finding device to return auto- ,matically to inactiveposition in so far as line finding is concerned.

4. In a business machine,a platen, front-feed means movable to and fromfront-feed position for receiving and guiding a front-fed sheet toprinting position, a line finding device pivoted to said front-feedmeans for movement therewith and movement independently thereof to andfrom line finding position, means for moving the line finding device toline finding position, means for latching the line finding device inline finding position, and means automatically operable upon movement ofsaid front-feed means to closed throat position for causing said linefinding device to return to inoperative position.

5. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed means for receiving andguiding a sheet to printing position, a line finding device, means formoving said line finding device to line finding position, latching meansadapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, asheet controlled means governed by the presence of a sheet in contactwith a portion of said means, and connections between said latch andsaid sheet controlled means adapted to prevent the latching of the linefinder in 'line finding position when a to printing position, a linefinding device, means for moving said line finding device to linefinding position, latching means adapted to latch the line findingdevice in line finding position, a sheet end signal means, connectionsgoverned by said sheet end signal means adapted toprevent the latchingof the line finder in line finding position when said sheet end signalis in one position, means for moving the sheet end signal means fromsaid position to permit the latching of the line finding device in linefinding position, and means for releasing said latch to permit said linefinding device to move to inoperative position.

7. In a business machine having front-feed means movable to open andclosed throat position for receiving and guiding a front-fed sheet toprinting position, a line finding device, means for moving said linefinding device to line finding position, latching means adapted to latchthe line finding device in line finding position, a sheet end signaldevice, connections governed by said sheet end signal device adapted tomaintain the said latching means in inoperable position when said signaldevice is in one position, means for moving the sheet end signal devicefrom said position to permit the latching of said line finding device inline finding position, and means automatically operable upon closing ofsaid throat to release said latch to permit said line finding device tomove to inoperative position,

8. In a business machine, a front-feed means adapted to be moved to andfrom open throat position, a line finding device pivoted to said front-I feed means comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine andadapted to be used in aligning a sheet to the correct printing line bythe adjustment of the sheet relative to the rear edge of the blade,means for moving said blade to line finding position while saidfront-feed means used in aligning a sheet to the correct printing line,means normally urging said line finder to inoperative position, meansyielding limiting said Ilatter means, and means for moving said blade inone direction to line finding position, said blade being movable in theother direction against said yielding means.

10. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by saidframe, a front-feed paper table, a pivoted line finding device pivotedto said'table comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine infront of said platen'and adapted to be used in aligning a sheet to thecorrect printing line, means normally urging said line finder toinoperative position, means yieldingly limiting said latter means, andmeans for moving said blade in one direction to line finding position,said blade being movable in the other direction against said yieldingmeans.

11. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by saidframe, a front-feed paper table adapted to support and guide a papersheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a bladeextending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adaptedto align a, sheet to the correct printing line, means for movingtheblade to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch theline finding device in line finding position, means for releasing saidlatch to permit said line finder to return to inoperative position, asheet end signal device, and connections governed by said sheet endsignal device adapted to prevent the latching of the line finding devicein line finding position when said signal device is in one position.

12. In a business machine," a platen frame, a platen supported by saidframe, a front-feed paper table adapted to support and guide a Papersheet, a line finding device pivoted to said table comprising a bladeextending laterally of the machine in front of said platen and adaptedto align a sheet to the correct printing line, means for moving theblade to line finding position, latching means adapted to latch the linefinding device in line finding position, a sheet end signal device,connections thereto adapted when in one position to prevent the latchingof the line finding device in line findingposition, means for movingsaid sheet end signal device out of said p0sition to permit the latchingof the line finding device in sheet aligning position, and means forreleasing said latch to permit said line finding device to move toinoperative position.

1 3. In a business machine, a platen frame, a platen supported by saidframe, front-feed means including a paper table adapted to support and"guide a paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to said tablecomprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front of saidplaten and adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line, meansto move the blade to line finding position, latching means adapted tolatch the line finding device in line finding position, a sheet endsignal device adapted to engage the latching means so as to disable saidlatch when said device is in one position, means for latching said sheetend signal device in ineffective position to permit the latching of theline finding device in sheet aligningpositiom'and means for releasingsaid latch to permit said line finding device to return I to inoperativeposition.

14. In a business machine, a platen adapted to 'be moved to and fromprintingposition, a frontfeed means for receiving and guiding a sheet toprinting position, a paper pan adapted to support a sheet duringinsertion and to maintain the same against the platen when in operativeposition, means for moving said pan to inoperative position, a linefinding device adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line,means for moving the line finding device to line finding position, meansadapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, asheet end signal device adapted to prevent the latching of the linefinding device in line finding position when inone position, a singlemeans cooperating with. the paper pan moving means and said sheet endsignal device whereby said paper pan and said sheet end signal deviceare moved simultaneously, and means for releasing said latching means topermit said line finding device to return toinoperative position.

15. In a business machine, a platen adapted to be moved toand fromprinting position, a front-feed means including a paper table adapted tosupport and guide a paper sheet, a line finding device pivoted to saidtable comprising a blade extending laterally of the machine in front ofsaid platen and adapted to align a sheet to the correct printing line,means for moving said blade to line findingposition, latching meansadapted to latch the line finding device in line finding position, asheet end signal -device adapted to prevent the operation of saidlatching means, a paper pan adapted to support a sheet during insertionand to maintain the same against the platen when in active position,latchable means for moving said pan to inactive position, a single meanscooperating with the paper pan moving means and said sheet end signaldevice whereby said paper pan and said sheet end signal device are movedsimultaneously, and means for releasing said latch to permit the linefinding device to return to inoperative position.

16. In a business machine, a platen, a frontfeed chute movable to andfrom front-feed position relative to said platen for receiving andguiding a sheet under the platen to printing posi-' tion, a linefin'ding device movable independently of said chute to and from linefinding position, means for moving said line finding device to linefinding position while said chute is in the frontfeed position, meansfor releasably holding said line-finding device in line-finding positionand automatic means for returning said line finding device toinoperative position.

17. A machine of the class described having a finder normally occupyinga position where it is inactive for line finding, means for moving saidline finder to a line-finding position independently of said front-feedmeans and while said front-feed means is in front-feed position, holdingmeans for releasably holding said line finder in line-finding positionsaid line finder having portions acting, when so moved, to move theupper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical positionand to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enablesaid sheetto be adjusted to line position and to be held in such position by saidline finder, and means operable to close said throat to grip said worksheet as'so held and to then cause said line finder to be movedautomatically to inactive position.

18. A machine of the class described having a platen, front-feed meansfor receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fed position relative tosaid platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movablefrom a closed, to an open-'- throat position and vice versa and havingportions that enable a sheet to be positioned face forward in saidthroat 'while it is open, a line finder urged to a position where it isinactive for line finding, means for moving said line finder to aline-finding position independently of said front-feed means, said linefinder having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end ofan inserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and toreleasably hold said sheet about said platen to enable said sheet to bead- :iusted to line position and to be held in such position by saidline finder, means for holding said line finder in line-findingposition, and means operable to close said throat to grip said worksheet as so held and to subsequently disable ing a work sheet infront-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feed meansproviding. a throat that is movable from a closed to an openthroatposition and vice versa and having portions that enable a sheet to bepositioned face forward in said throat while it is open, a line finderurged to a position where it is inactive for line finding, means-formoving said line finder to a line-finding position independently of saidfront-feed means, said line finder having portions acting, when somoved, to move the upper end of an inserted work sheet to asubstantially vertical position and to releasably hold said sheet aboutsaid platen to enable said sheet to be adjusted to line position and tobe held in such position -by 'said line finder, means for holding saidline finder in linefinding position, and means operable to close saidthroat to grip said work sheet as so held and to subsequently disablesaid line-finderholding means, the disabling portion of said meansacting to maintain said holding means disabled until said throat isagain opened.

20. A machine of the class described having a platen, front-feed meansfor receiving and holding a work sheet in front-fed position relative tosaid platen, said front-feed means providing a throat that is movablefrom a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa and having apaper chute that enables a sheet to be placed face downward in aninclined position in said throat while it is open, said chute beingmovable from a sheetreceiving to a sheet-holding position and viceversa, a line finder normally occupying a position where it is inactivefor line finding, means for moving said line finder to a line-findingposition independently of said paper chute, said line finder havingportions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end of an insertedwork sheet to a substantially vertical position and to releasably holdsaid sheet about said platen to .enable said sheet to be adjusted toline position and to be held in such position by said line finder,holding means for releasably holding the line-finder in line-findingposition and means operable to close said throat to grip said worksheet, to move said chute from sheet-receiving to sheet-holdingposition, and to cause said line finderto be moved automatically toinactive position.

21. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, aplaten movable from a printing position relative to said printingmechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa,

front-feed means associated with said platen for enabling a work sheetto be received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen,said front-feed means providing a throat that is movable from a closedto an open-throat position and vice versa and having portions enabling asheet to be placed face forward in said throat while it is open, a linefinder normally occupying a position where it is inactive for linefinding, means for moving said line finder to a line-finding positionindependently of said front-feed means and while said front-feed meansis in front-feed position, hOlding means for releasably holding saidline finder in line-finding position, said line finder:

having portions acting, when so moved, to move the upper end' of aninserted work sheet to a substantially vertical position and toreleasably hold saidsheet about said platen to enable said sheet to bemoved to, and to be held by said line finder, in line position, andmeans for closing said frontieed throat and moving said platen toprinting position including means operating automatically after saidfront-feed throat has been closed to cause said line finder to be movedto its inactive position. I

22. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, aplaten movable from a printing position relative to said printingmechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa,

front-feed meansassociated with said platen for enabling a work sheet tobe received and held in front-fed position relative to said platen, saidthe upper end of an inserted work sheet to a substantially verticalposition and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen to enablesaid sheet to be moved to and to be held by said line finder,

in line position, holding means for holding said line finder inline-finding position, and means for closing said front-feed throat andmoving said platen to printing position including means operatingautomatically after said front-feed throat has been closed to disablesaid line-finder holding means to free said line finder for movement toinactive position.

23. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, aplaten movable from a printing position relative to said printingmechanism. to a front-feed position and vice versa, front-feed meansassociated with said platen for enabling a work sheet to be received andheld in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feedmeans providing a throat that is movable from closed to open-throatposition and vice versa and having portions enabling a sheet to beplaced face forward in said throat while it is open, a line finder urgedto a position where it is inactive for line finding, means formovingsaid line finder to a line-finding position independently of saidfront-feed means, said line finder having portions acting, when somoved, to move, the upper end of an inserted work sheet to substantiallyvertical position and to releasably hold said sheet about said platen toenable said sheet to be moved to, and to be held by said line finder, inline position, holding means for holding said line finder inline-finding position, and means for closing said front-feed throat andmoving said platen to printing position including means operatingautomatically after said front-feed throat has been, closed to disablesaid line-finder holdingmeans' and to maintain it disabled until saidplaten is moved to front-feed position.

24. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, aplaten movable from a printing position relative to said printingmechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, front-feed meansassociated with said platen for enabling a work sheet tobe received andheld in front-fed position relative to said platen, said front-feedmeans providing a throat that is movable from a closed to an open-throatposition and vice versa and having a paper chute enabling a sheet to beplaced face downward in an inclined position in said throat while it isopen, said chute being movable from sheet-receiving to sheetholdingposition and vice versa, a line finder normally occupying a positionwhere it isinactive for line finding, means for moving said line finderto line-finding position independently of said releasably hold saidsheet about said platen to enable said sheet to be moved to, and to beheld by said line finder, in line position, and means for closing saidfront-feed throat and moving said platento printing position and saidchute from sheet-receiving to sheet-holding position including meansoperating automatically after said front-feed throat has been closed tocause said 5 line finder to be moved to its inactive position.

ROBERT L. MULLER.

